PHOTOS Springtime Overnight Nolichucky Trip

Trip Videos Are Coming Soon

June 2007 Fishing Report

South Holston Tailrace
Sulfurs are coming off daily in upper sections of the river. Exceptional dry fly fishing is available almost everyday during the afternoon float. Delicate presentations and the right fly will catch beautiful rising fish. Make sure to pick out the nicest fish before you begin casting into a pod of risers. The sulfur hatch has been at its best in high water during sunny days. Before and after the hatch sulfur nymphs, sulfur emergers, and terrestrials are producing well.

Watauga Tailrace
The terrestrial bite is heating up on the Watauga. Nice fish are being caught on dry flies such as ants and beetles. Look in the surrounding trees and bushes and match the fly to the natural bug. Fishing terrestrials with a little movement is a great way of coxing finicky fish into hitting your bug. Throw a few naturals in the water and watch the way they wiggle around in the currents, and fish your flies likewise.

Nolichucky
The fish are concentrated heavily with low water levels. This is a great time to catch a smallie on the fly rod. Poppers and deerhair flies are working well early and late in the day. Don’t overlook the fast riffles and runs as the baitfish are seeking the oxygenated water. Muddy conditions after a rain is a great time to fish shallow for big smallmouth. Black poppers and streamers work well in murky water.

Photos - Springtime Overnight Nolichucky Trip

Boone Area Streams

Watauga River
Fly fisherman are still catching fish despite the harvest. Look for water not suitable for baitfisherman, and dredge natural nymphs or fish terrestrials. Small wild browns are being caught in the fast water and around undercut banks. Deep water nymphing will produce some nice rainbows. Head to the river early and late to avoid the crowds. The smallmouth and brim bite is good in lower sections heading toward TN. Small poppers and streamers will catch you plenty of fish. If fishing midday, look for deep shaded banks and logjams where the fish will concentrate heavily.

Local Small Streams
With low water levels the fish are holed up and ultra spooky. Educated cast and stealth are vital when approaching good holes. The terrestrial bite is fair to good, with beetles and ants producing best. Small caddisflies will produce as these bugs are the meat and potatoes of the local small streams.

South Fork New River
Ample wading opportunities are available with low water levels. The smallmouth are concentrated and will eagerly take a topwater fly. Early morning and late afternoon are the best times to fish the river. Muddler minnows, small poppers, and small minnow like streamers are producing best. Fish have also been caught dead drifting crawfish patterns.